Pico laser, meso injection, and skin peeling are quick methods of removing melasma.
Melasma is a hyperpigmentation disorder caused by excessive melanin production, leading to the formation of brown or black patches or spots on the skin. Melasma can occur at any age or gender. People who are frequently exposed to sunlight are more susceptible to melasma.
MSc. Dr. Vu Thi Thuy Trang, Dermatology - Cosmetic Dermatology specialist, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that 90% of melasma cases occur in women, usually after the age of 30, during pregnancy and after giving birth.
To effectively treat melasma, it is necessary to find the cause of the disease. Not all cases require treatment intervention, according to Dr. Trang. For example, melasma is caused by hormonal changes, pregnancy, taking birth control pills; due to too much exposure to sunlight, LED screens, cosmetic irritation... If the skin is protected and sun protection is good, these cases of melasma can fade on their own after giving birth or stopping use and exposure to the cause of the disease.
In case of deep melasma and mixed melasma, treatment time is required. Depending on the patient's condition and skin pigmentation, the doctor will choose the most suitable method for each patient such as topical medication, laser, meso injection (micro-injection), micro-needling, skin peeling (chemical skin regeneration), electrophoresis... The fast and effective way to treat melasma is laser, meso injection and skin peeling.
Pico lasers are a popular treatment for melasma because of their selective pigment destruction mechanism. Pico lasers deliver extremely short pulses of laser energy (measured in picoseconds, or trillionths of a second) to target melanin, the pigment that causes dark areas in melasma. These short pulses break melanin particles into smaller fragments, more effectively than traditional lasers, making it easier for the body to eliminate the pigment.
Traditional lasers used for melasma treatment typically operate at longer pulse times, which can create excess heat in the skin, leading to the risk of skin damage and prolonged recovery time. Pico lasers create less heat, reducing the risk of side effects such as post-treatment inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), a common problem in melasma treatment.
Treating melasma with pico laser technology at the Dermatology - Skin Aesthetics Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City: Photo: Nguyen Van
The meso injection technique uses a syringe with a super small, hair-thin needle to deliver active ingredients that can inhibit the production of pigment into the skin layers. The skin has three layers: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. Depending on the condition of melasma, the purpose and type of essence and medicine, the doctor will prescribe the injection in the appropriate skin layer.
The advantage of this procedure is that it is non-invasive and does not require recovery time. The drug is not hindered by the stratum corneum, so it is more effective and faster than topical or electrophoretic drugs. Each skin condition and essence gives different treatment results. Meso is usually effective a few days after injection and melasma can be clearly seen fading after a few weeks. A meso treatment course for melasma usually requires 2-5 injections, each 2-4 weeks apart. In addition to treating melasma, meso injections also improve fine and shallow wrinkles and tighten the skin.
However, if the injection is not done properly, the patient may experience pain, bruising, skin infection, and even permanent granuloma complications. Therefore, this method must be performed by a dermatologist or cosmetic dermatologist.
Skin peeling also brings fast melasma treatment results, according to Dr. Trang. Doctors use active ingredients such as glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, salicylic acid or trichloroacetic acid to remove the old, dark skin layer, stimulating the regeneration of new skin cells. The layers of melasma also fade after each peel. It takes about 3-5 skin regeneration sessions, and in 2-3 months, you can see clear melasma treatment results.
Dr. Trang noted that in addition to persistently following the treatment regimen for melasma, patients need to take care of their skin, cover it carefully, and use sunscreen every day to avoid the recurrence of melasma. They should avoid using topical medications, traditional medicines, or cosmetics of unknown origin, or following the advice of non-professionals.
The Department of Dermatology - Skin Aesthetics, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, receives many cases of complications such as facial swelling, allergies, and skin burns due to self-treatment of melasma. In these cases, the treatment process is difficult to return the skin to its original state.
Anh Thu
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